Family Tents - Dome vs Cabin Tent

Best family tents

Family tents fall into two main categories, cabin style and dome style tents. These days more people are choosing the dome style but there are pros and cons to both depending on your needs and preferences. If you are the sort of camper who enjoys a few more creature comforts you will most likely want to opt for a cabin style family tent over the dome.

Family Dome Tent vs Family Cabin Tent

"Cabins" are ideal if you plan to stay in one place for a decent length of time as they’re quite difficult to assemble. They usually require more than one person to put them together but once they’re set up they provide a spacious home away from home.

The straighter walls of a cabin family tent utilize space a lot more efficiently than a dome, especially in the sleeping areas. This extra space can also allow for more camping accessories such as chairs, tables, coolers and cookers etc. The headroom is usually more generous in a cabin tent, so you don’t have to stoop when inside. Cabin tents can have a more homely feel with large windows, some with mesh and curtains. They can also offer added privacy with room dividers or doors between the rooms.

These larger camping tents are usually made from heavy materials such as steel and heavy canvas which does require a bit more care. These materials make them stronger than a dome but they are also heavier to transport and they’re quite big and bulky to store when not in use. The weight and bulk of a cabin tent rules them out for backpacking so they’re more suited for camping in an established camping ground.

Dome Family Units on the other hand...

Dome tents do tend to be a bit cheaper than cabin tents and one of their other appealing characteristics is they are generally very easy to assemble. For example, several models in the Khyam range of tents take only twenty seconds to set up. The dome style family tents are considerably lighter than cabin tents as they use aluminum alloy or fiberglass poles. The fabric used in a dome is usually some form of polyester which makes them dry a lot quicker than canvas and they fold away to nothing.

If you are having problems deciding between the two styles you could take a look at a tent called a Cabanon Cancun which is a cross between a dome and a frame, for a happy compromise.